Coronavirus in Texas

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As holidays arrive, nearly 55% of Texans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 3 hours ago

The Texas Tribune is using data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Full Story 

Latest coverage

• Judge blocks Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers after Texas, other states sue

  by Kailyn Rhone 3 hours ago

  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had called the mandate “an unprecedented federal vaccine decree” on health care workers. Full Story 

• FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna boosters for all adults

  by Laurie McGinley, The Washington Post Nov. 19, 2021

  Officials hope the signoff injects new urgency about the importance of the extra shots. Full Story 

• Texas sues Biden administration for requiring health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccine

  by Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera Nov. 16, 2021

  The state has also challenged the federal government’s vaccination mandates for big businesses and federal contractors. Full Story 

• Texas schools can again set their own face mask rules after federal judge overrules Gov. Greg Abbott's ban

  by Brian Lopez Updated: Nov. 10, 2021

  The judge said the governor's order impedes children with disabilities from the benefits of public schools’ programs, services and activities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Full Story 

• Majority of Texans support COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates, UT/TT poll says

  by Bethany Irvine Nov. 9, 2021

  Fifty-seven percent of voters support mask requirements in indoor public spaces based on local conditions, while 58% support mask requirements in public schools. Full Story 

• Unvaccinated Texans make up vast majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths this year, new state data shows

  by Karen Brooks Harper Nov. 8, 2021

  The new state survey is the first time Texas health officials have been able to statistically measure the vaccine's true impact on the pandemic. Full Story 

• “Happy to see you again”: U.S. reopens land borders with Mexico to vaccinated travelers after 19 months

  by Uriel J. García Updated: Nov. 8, 2021

  The ports of entry were closed in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Mexican nationals will need to present proof of vaccination to enter the U.S. Full Story 

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• Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over new COVID-19 vaccination rules for big businesses

  by Mitchell Ferman Nov. 5, 2021

  The move comes a week after Texas filed a separate lawsuit over new vaccination rules for federal contractors. Full Story 

• White House says big businesses must mandate vaccines or require testing by Jan. 4, regardless of what states like Texas say

  by Mitchell Ferman Updated: Nov. 4, 2021

  The new rules preempt state and local laws, including part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates. Full Story 

• Texas sues the Biden administration over federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates

  by James Pollard Oct. 29, 2021

  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott have been at war with locals and federal officials over vaccinate mandates. Earlier this month, Abbott expanded an executive order to block the requirement for any entity in Texas, including health care facilities and private businesses. Full Story 

• Wondering who can get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot and when? Here’s what Texans need to know.

  by Allyson Waller Updated: Nov. 22, 2021

  The vaccine’s protection goes down with time, so medical experts recommend a supplemental dose after two to six months. Find out here if it’s time to get one. Full Story 

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• After months of store closures and layoffs, border businesses eager to welcome back Mexican customers Nov. 8

  by Uriel J. García Oct. 19, 2021

  For 19 months, business owners along the Texas-Mexico border have seen a drastic drop in customers because of COVID-19 travel restrictions. With land borders scheduled to reopen Nov. 8, they are banking on a return to pre-pandemic sales. Full Story 

• It’s cheap, easy to make and in demand overseas. So why can’t this Texas-born COVID-19 vaccine break into the U.S. market?

  by Karen Brooks Harper Oct. 19, 2021

  A Houston vaccine team would like a U.S. distributor but for now focuses its efforts abroad to inoculate those in countries where COVID-19 variants surface more quickly. Full Story 

• Texas bill to block COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employers failed in Legislature after business groups rallied against it

  by Mitchell Ferman and James Barragán Updated: Oct. 19, 2021

  A prohibition on vaccine mandates was one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities for the special session, but it did not have enough support in the Legislature. Full Story 

• As Texas GOP wages war on COVID-19 mandates, lawmakers OK bill that would make companies requiring the shot vulnerable to lawsuits

  by Neelam Bohra and Mitchell Ferman Oct. 14, 2021

  Senate Bill 51 would make any entity, including hospitals, vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits if they mandate vaccinations for all employees. Full Story 

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• Texas Supreme Court puts San Antonio school district’s vaccine mandate on hold

  by Joshua Fechter Oct. 14, 2021

  The halt comes after Gov. Greg Abbott expanded his ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates — which previously applied to cities, counties and school districts — to private employers. Full Story 

• This Plano family got evicted after the Texas Rent Relief program paid the wrong landlord

  by Christopher Connelly, KERA News Oct. 14, 2021

  The state’s $1.9 billion rental assistance program, which launched during the pandemic, has helped more than 165,000 Texans. But people have “slipped through the cracks,” advocates say. Full Story 

• At Stephen F. Austin State University, a quiet pay bump for the president sparks outrage and questions over the budget and furloughs

  by Kate McGee Oct. 14, 2021

  A pandemic-weary faculty and staff want President Scott Gordon to step down, but the board of regents stands behind him for now. Full Story 

• U.S. to reopen land borders with Mexico to vaccinated travelers starting in November

  by Uriel J. García and Kevin Reynolds Updated: Oct. 13, 2021

  The borders were closed to nonessential travel in March 2020, which hurt businesses in Texas border cities that rely on Mexican shoppers. Full Story 

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• “It puts a big burden on employers”: Businesses face tough choices after Gov. Greg Abbott bans vaccine mandates

  by Mitchell Ferman Updated: Oct. 12, 2021

  American Airlines and Southwest Airlines say they will continue requiring employee vaccinations despite Abbott’s new order, which has left federal government contractors, nursing homes and other companies caught between conflicting rules from the Biden administration and the state. Full Story